That was quite a sight, he would admit, and he it was one that he was going to have to get used to. That tail - even damaged - was impressive. He could only imagine what it might look like while in motion through water. Maybe in time when he returned the other to the sea he could see it briefly. He supposed he was making a trip to town though. Pet store might have something to help with the damage?
"You fight a lot, do you? I was noticing your scars." They had that in common at least. Lots of scars.
"But you stayed. You must have a cream of the crop territory," he remarked, not certain what that actually meant. He didn't know enough of this sea creature to know what it was that kept him. A part of him hoped to find out.
Wouldn't hurt to ask around at least on that trip, never knew what could be found in anything this close to the sea.
His head tipped, "Not as much as I once did," but yes. "Not all of these are from fighting, but enough are." Waters were deep and much was hidden there, but he wasn't going to say that not all of them had come from those depths or shallows.
He did stay, "It's mine to keep." Whatever that could entail wasn't exactly given for free, but it was his all the same. "It will remain that way," as long as he could fight to keep it that way.
"Are some from hunting?" He wasn't certain what he was expecting really. He thought fighting, but then again, prey was probably equipped to be nasty in their own way. Scars told a story after all, even if he had no idea how to read those particular ones. His own were covered in his clothing... except the two across his face.
"Do you have... well, kids?" How maternal and paternal were they? It was awkward and he probably shouldn't have asked, but this was honestly the weirdest and best conversation he had had in a long time. No pitying looks. No silent questions.
"That's fair enough. How long have you had that territory?"
"A few," not enough to account for the expanse of scars on him, but a few of them were from while he was out hunting; accidents, something bigger and desperately hungry out there, the usual. None of it pretty, but he was the one who came out of it whole and alive. That was what mattered in the end.
That was a question alright- "I don't see them a lot since my partner and I separated quite the many years ago, but I know I have grand-kids. They've brought them when their migration had them this way." No hard feelings by the sounds of it, simply how life went at times even under the water. "Do you?"
Eyes lifted towards the ceiling, trying to re-call a number as his brow furrowed- "It always belonged to my family, through my mother, from her father. I can't give an exact time, but it has always been since it was passed on to me."
There were plenty of stories there, and they didn't need to get into them here and now. They had just met after all, and asking after the reasons of someone's scars was sometimes deeply personal. He knew that he didn't like to talk much about the ones that marred his face, especially because they were so obvious and thus drew more attention.
It was probably supposed to be awkward, but he didn't find it so. "Grand-kids? That's great. Everyone needs to have family," he said with a nod of his head, the pleasure of family lighting him up. His family was a long line of farmers and soldiers, and they had a lot of pride. He didn't see them much, not with the sleepless nights and nightmares. He needed space, but he called regularly. "Um... no. I don't have kids or... grandkids." Never found the right partner for that, too focused on his career. "I have lots of cousins, nephews and nieces though."
No wonder the merman wasn't about to leave his territory. Like Jack's farm, that territory had been in the merman's family for generations. It wasn't something to just abandon unless absolutely necessary. "Sounds like a place to stay, yeah."
"I see them maybe once a year, if that." Just the way it was. The were safer, all of the, off where they'd gone to so far away from humans and in to much deeper waters. Where their mother was from, while he stayed where he needed to be no matter. Better off for them, and he was more of a solitary creature after so many years anyway. "As do I, but they too have moved to other waters."
He was the only one stubborn enough to remain, and was very good at keeping himself hidden for the most part. Sure, others did roam the area, but not over the territory he claimed; neighbors of his own in a way, really.
"At least I do not live where the waters turned on me," and washed him up on shore, but still not close enough to make it back out there in his condition.
"Would you want to see them more?" He folded his hands together, and it seemed that this creature very much was solitary, and he couldn't tell if that was what they wanted or if it was little more than a fact of life. Maybe everyone battled loneliness at some point. "Well... you're welcome to be around here if you need company after you heal up." He assumed they could arrange something.
He finally rose from his seat to retrieve the plate that had once had the fish on it. He left to set it down in the sink to wash then returned, leaning on the doorframe again.
"I'll ask around the village about the waters. They have been muttering about things changing the last week or so," he remarked.
There was a slight shrug, "They've got their own lives. Wasn't a part of that when their mother left with them, it's enough that they've got good memories that they want to stop by with their own kids at all." Place had gotten too dangerous for them to come by more often than that, but that wasn't something he was going to bring up so easily. Head tilted to the side a bit- "We'll see." Not a yes, but definitely not turning down the offer, just perhaps thought it strange.
Had sunk back down further in to the water when Jack returned, hair still tied back and kept out of the water.
Hummed softly, "Be nice to know what it could be."
"That's a very noncommital answer," he pointed out, not that he expected much more than that. They had just met, so opening up about the deep and dark aspects of their wants and desires was not something that would just happen in a few hours. It still felt necessary to set the line in the sand that he could understand avoidance.
"Whatever it is, it managed to get the better of you and that doesn't seem to be any kind of easy feat," he remarked and was uncomfortable with the thought. If this merman was one of the last in these parts. "For now, I want you to just rest. I'll go out fishing for something a bit more fresh for you."
Of course, he had no idea how much a merman ate. "How much do you need to eat in a day?"
"Is it?" An eyebrow arched rather clearly, "I'd think honesty without going in to details is committal enough, while setting a rather clear boundary that I'm not going to delve that deeply. I appreciate your help, but there's a difference between being grateful and what I'm comfortable in giving." Very easy to pick up offence from that, a slight narrowing of eyes before turning his head away, sinking deeper in to that tub.
Didn't turn his head or shift his gaze when he spoke again. "I wasn't out deep enough to be near anything that could," there were things out there, but he hunted places where he'd never encounter something he couldn't fight. "Alright." Rest was about all he could do.
Silent, thinking- "It depends on how active I am, but given I'm going to be resting here to heal just a few meals worth a day. What you provided was good for one."
Jack held up his hands as a sign of peace, not wanting to offend his guest, since they were going to have to work around each other. "Alright, I withdraw the statement," he said simply, leaving it at that. It had been a long time since he'd had to room with anyone other than himself after all, so this was new and building friendships was no longer his strong suit. "I didn't mean to overstep."
That might be true. He would still look into the matter and see if it was military activity or something else entirely. He had no idea what could be out there. After all, he thought mermen were folk tales. "Give me time to look into it."
He nodded his head, calculating how much he would need to fish. He was here for the sea, not the fishing honestly, so he was going to have to up those skills. Well, it was a good enough motivation to be better. "Right. I guess I should get out there and fish you your next few meals then."
His head tipped, "If I was avoiding an answer, it would be very much clear that I wouldn't answer at all. You're curious, and that's fine," because really. Human interacting with something clearly not human and able to communicate clearly. "When you ask something I don't want to answer, I'll make it clear for you. Until then? You will hear what I can answer with," and it sounded reasonable to him, honestly.
There was a moment of almost silence- "It is possible something is happening to.. drive something from the deep closer inland. That wouldn't be good for anyone, including those of you on land." So definitely look in to it.
"If it makes it easier? I am capable of eating more than fish, so you can supplement things from a... grocery store." As if the word was foreign on his tongue, but he still knew it. Knew it's meaning and what it was.
It was reasonable, but he was aware that he had been pushy and rude. The family of others was always interesting to him, and quite frankly, he had a regret or two about not starting one himself. "You're more than free to tell me to piss off if I'm encroached too personally," he said simply.
That wouldn't surprise him. He had no idea why the military vessel was out there aside from the usual 'training' reason. There were still other places more fitting for the Navy to operate, so it was more and more suspicious. He'd heard rumours they restarted some questionable experimentation on living creatures, but until now, he considered them the usual mutterings. "I know some people... I'll reach out." His name still meant something to some.
Jack snorted softly at the idea that he was going to buy meat from a grocery store. "You're an omnivore then? The only other meat I bring home is what I kill personally. I like to know where my food comes from," he remarked. So maybe a couple of squirrels might make their way into the menu.
"Trust me, I will." There was a hint of amusement to his tone as he said it, stretching out just a bit in that tub, fins curling before he was relaxed once again. Was going to get cramped real fast. He'd have to do something about that, soon.
Hell, who knows. A certain creature may have narrowly escaped something much more worse than washing up on shore in a way that if left there he'd surely be dead. Much worse fates than death, but for the moment he just knew there was something very wrong, and it was safer to stay inland. "Just be careful," even information could be dangerous. Or something along those lines.
"Yeah. Be surprise what can be found at times," benefiting from cargo lost at sea? Possible, yes. "Or how close to land some will come if they've got a taste for more than fish- have gone up rivers for deer and the like."
Of that, he had no doubt. It seemed that they had reached some sort of piece with his new merman stretching out instead of buckering down in the tub. That was about as much resolution as he could and would expect. Growing pains and all that, learning little habits and personalities of one another.
Jack intended to at least have something to occupy his time outside of the house and answers were always satisfying in the same way that they were maddening. It had been awhile since he had something to do other than listen to the waves and consider what the hell he was going to do with his life in the future. "I always am. Probably the only reason I'm still alive." Always needed to have escape contingencies.
"Well, if you don't just need sea food, I can cook us up a menu. I know a few recipes that you might like," he said as he considered his options. He hadn't ever taken a sushi class, but there were other means. "Venison is good. I'll see what I can do."
Didn't make much of a comment after that other than nodding his head- "You've got more options that you first thought feeding me," which would work out better for the both of them, so he imagined. Fishing could be hard work the way humans did it, and if this one didn't grow up fishing an ocean an even more difficult time. Probably.
"That will be a good thing, since the more you eat, the more energy you'll have to heal up." But having a more varied diet would definitely help him keep the ruse that he had a guest in his small place. He tended to keep to himself, and that's the way that he liked it, especially when it came to being self-sufficient. If anyone asked why he was hunting or fishing so much, he could call it preparation for the winter months.
He nodded his head. "Any allergies I should know about?"
"Just keep in mind that whatever it is, I need a good portion of meat as the basis." Primarily a carnivore, but that fact he did have an omnivore nature just meant he did get everything essential for keeping healthy with the type of creature he was. Even if some things were more treat at times than necessary for his survival.
Did think for a moment, shaking his head slowly- "Nothing that I can think of, no. At least not food-wise."
"Yes, yes, no salads for you," he remarked with a nod of his head. He had plenty of meat in the back freezer, but none of it was thawed, and if he was treating with another guest, he should probably grab something fresh. It had been awhile since he had gone hunting. It sounded like a good opportunity to do that.
"And non-food wise?" They may as well get that out of the way so he could remove any potential allergy-inducing materials.
"I will take tomatoes and peppers, however." Not a salad but sounded like the start of a good salsa? Something like that maybe- "Some onions, cilantro- Then again maybe not for you." Was that a tease? How was that a tease that carried in his voice over some little list like that as if he knew what he was talking about-
There was a moment of thoughtful silence there. "Nothing I can think of. Been a while since I was on land to any capacity."
"You like spicy food then?" Peppers came in all manner of varieties after all, and they went from mild to burn-your-face-off. He needed to know if he was having a go for the common bell pepper to trying his hand for jalapenos. "I can make a good stir-fry with all of that. Let's you pick out what you don't like." He shook his head at the tease though because of course he had a sassy merman in his house.
Well, it seemed they had at least some basics down for each other. "We'll keep things simple for you to recover. Feel free to haul yourself out of there if you want. Towels are on the rack to dry off."
A soft hum, "Whenever I come inland enough to get it, yeah. Sometimes things fall off ships, things like that." Wasn't something he got overly often, but he damn well knew what he liked. "Sounds reasonable, and rather good, to me." Fish stir fry? Or whatever other meat Jack might have on hand to spare for that.
That was permission enough for him, wasn't it. "I'll keep it in mind, more so if I find myself needing to stretch- and won't track sea water through your home." Could promise that much at least.
Well, he wasn’t too big on spice being from the country, but he had learned more than his share about spices when he was deployed. He wasn’t known for being the number one grillmaster because he slacked on his knowledge of rubs when it came to meat. He supposed that he was going to be employing that kind of knowledge on grilling up a steak for this merman of his.
“You ever had a grilled steak before? Or venison? Or chicken?” He had a barbecue out back on his desk, one of the few items that he had refused to leave behind when he moved out this way. “I’m pretty good on the grill, and I can make an excellent medium rare or even rare for you.” Maybe he needed something to show off about, since the other creature was so unique and wonderful.
That would be nice. He kept his place very neat and tidy after all, but he would clean when and where necessary. “Alright, I’m going to head out and get some supplies for us. I’ll be back in a few hours. No special requests while I’m gone?”
"Can't say that I have, no. Most of my diet is raw, save for the few times I've ventured on land, but never grilled." Baked or perhaps... 'roasted' over an open flame, but he at least knew grilling was much more different than that. Knew what it was from the answer at least. "Could try rare first and go from there over the period of time you're going to have me as a guest."
Warmed up to the thought, watching Jack as he moved, shifting so arms were folded on the edge of the tub, head rested against them.
"Well, I'll treat you to a grilled steak that you won't soon forget," he boasted with a soft sort of certainty. Grilling was one of the few activities where he could just enjoy himself, lose himself in the pleasure of it. "You'll want to come out of the sea more often to visit me for grilling night." Once the merman was healed, he meant.
He looked back as he pulled on his boots, tying them as they considered. "You tried chocolate yet?" The local bakery made some mean chocolate chip cookies he had heard after all, and he could pick up a few. He'd only been in there for bread before, but maybe a change of pace for his new roommate.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2019-11-10 05:50 pm (UTC)"You fight a lot, do you? I was noticing your scars." They had that in common at least. Lots of scars.
"But you stayed. You must have a cream of the crop territory," he remarked, not certain what that actually meant. He didn't know enough of this sea creature to know what it was that kept him. A part of him hoped to find out.
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Date: 2019-11-11 03:59 am (UTC)His head tipped, "Not as much as I once did," but yes. "Not all of these are from fighting, but enough are." Waters were deep and much was hidden there, but he wasn't going to say that not all of them had come from those depths or shallows.
He did stay, "It's mine to keep." Whatever that could entail wasn't exactly given for free, but it was his all the same. "It will remain that way," as long as he could fight to keep it that way.
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Date: 2019-11-12 04:48 am (UTC)"Do you have... well, kids?" How maternal and paternal were they? It was awkward and he probably shouldn't have asked, but this was honestly the weirdest and best conversation he had had in a long time. No pitying looks. No silent questions.
"That's fair enough. How long have you had that territory?"
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Date: 2019-11-12 06:37 am (UTC)That was a question alright- "I don't see them a lot since my partner and I separated quite the many years ago, but I know I have grand-kids. They've brought them when their migration had them this way." No hard feelings by the sounds of it, simply how life went at times even under the water. "Do you?"
Eyes lifted towards the ceiling, trying to re-call a number as his brow furrowed- "It always belonged to my family, through my mother, from her father. I can't give an exact time, but it has always been since it was passed on to me."
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Date: 2019-11-15 07:51 pm (UTC)It was probably supposed to be awkward, but he didn't find it so. "Grand-kids? That's great. Everyone needs to have family," he said with a nod of his head, the pleasure of family lighting him up. His family was a long line of farmers and soldiers, and they had a lot of pride. He didn't see them much, not with the sleepless nights and nightmares. He needed space, but he called regularly. "Um... no. I don't have kids or... grandkids." Never found the right partner for that, too focused on his career. "I have lots of cousins, nephews and nieces though."
No wonder the merman wasn't about to leave his territory. Like Jack's farm, that territory had been in the merman's family for generations. It wasn't something to just abandon unless absolutely necessary. "Sounds like a place to stay, yeah."
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Date: 2019-11-16 10:52 am (UTC)He was the only one stubborn enough to remain, and was very good at keeping himself hidden for the most part. Sure, others did roam the area, but not over the territory he claimed; neighbors of his own in a way, really.
"At least I do not live where the waters turned on me," and washed him up on shore, but still not close enough to make it back out there in his condition.
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Date: 2019-11-17 11:48 pm (UTC)He finally rose from his seat to retrieve the plate that had once had the fish on it. He left to set it down in the sink to wash then returned, leaning on the doorframe again.
"I'll ask around the village about the waters. They have been muttering about things changing the last week or so," he remarked.
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Date: 2019-11-18 07:13 am (UTC)Had sunk back down further in to the water when Jack returned, hair still tied back and kept out of the water.
Hummed softly, "Be nice to know what it could be."
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Date: 2019-11-19 05:31 am (UTC)"Whatever it is, it managed to get the better of you and that doesn't seem to be any kind of easy feat," he remarked and was uncomfortable with the thought. If this merman was one of the last in these parts. "For now, I want you to just rest. I'll go out fishing for something a bit more fresh for you."
Of course, he had no idea how much a merman ate. "How much do you need to eat in a day?"
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Date: 2019-11-19 05:03 pm (UTC)Didn't turn his head or shift his gaze when he spoke again. "I wasn't out deep enough to be near anything that could," there were things out there, but he hunted places where he'd never encounter something he couldn't fight. "Alright." Rest was about all he could do.
Silent, thinking- "It depends on how active I am, but given I'm going to be resting here to heal just a few meals worth a day. What you provided was good for one."
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Date: 2019-11-21 05:05 am (UTC)That might be true. He would still look into the matter and see if it was military activity or something else entirely. He had no idea what could be out there. After all, he thought mermen were folk tales. "Give me time to look into it."
He nodded his head, calculating how much he would need to fish. He was here for the sea, not the fishing honestly, so he was going to have to up those skills. Well, it was a good enough motivation to be better. "Right. I guess I should get out there and fish you your next few meals then."
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Date: 2019-11-21 12:47 pm (UTC)There was a moment of almost silence- "It is possible something is happening to.. drive something from the deep closer inland. That wouldn't be good for anyone, including those of you on land." So definitely look in to it.
"If it makes it easier? I am capable of eating more than fish, so you can supplement things from a... grocery store." As if the word was foreign on his tongue, but he still knew it. Knew it's meaning and what it was.
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Date: 2019-11-22 07:01 pm (UTC)That wouldn't surprise him. He had no idea why the military vessel was out there aside from the usual 'training' reason. There were still other places more fitting for the Navy to operate, so it was more and more suspicious. He'd heard rumours they restarted some questionable experimentation on living creatures, but until now, he considered them the usual mutterings. "I know some people... I'll reach out." His name still meant something to some.
Jack snorted softly at the idea that he was going to buy meat from a grocery store. "You're an omnivore then? The only other meat I bring home is what I kill personally. I like to know where my food comes from," he remarked. So maybe a couple of squirrels might make their way into the menu.
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Date: 2019-11-23 01:18 am (UTC)Hell, who knows. A certain creature may have narrowly escaped something much more worse than washing up on shore in a way that if left there he'd surely be dead. Much worse fates than death, but for the moment he just knew there was something very wrong, and it was safer to stay inland. "Just be careful," even information could be dangerous. Or something along those lines.
"Yeah. Be surprise what can be found at times," benefiting from cargo lost at sea? Possible, yes. "Or how close to land some will come if they've got a taste for more than fish- have gone up rivers for deer and the like."
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Date: 2019-11-26 05:20 am (UTC)Jack intended to at least have something to occupy his time outside of the house and answers were always satisfying in the same way that they were maddening. It had been awhile since he had something to do other than listen to the waves and consider what the hell he was going to do with his life in the future. "I always am. Probably the only reason I'm still alive." Always needed to have escape contingencies.
"Well, if you don't just need sea food, I can cook us up a menu. I know a few recipes that you might like," he said as he considered his options. He hadn't ever taken a sushi class, but there were other means. "Venison is good. I'll see what I can do."
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Date: 2019-12-05 01:24 pm (UTC)Didn't make much of a comment after that other than nodding his head- "You've got more options that you first thought feeding me," which would work out better for the both of them, so he imagined. Fishing could be hard work the way humans did it, and if this one didn't grow up fishing an ocean an even more difficult time. Probably.
"We'll see what you come up with then, Jack."
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Date: 2019-12-11 05:10 am (UTC)He nodded his head. "Any allergies I should know about?"
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Date: 2019-12-11 08:38 am (UTC)Did think for a moment, shaking his head slowly- "Nothing that I can think of, no. At least not food-wise."
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Date: 2019-12-13 05:47 pm (UTC)"And non-food wise?" They may as well get that out of the way so he could remove any potential allergy-inducing materials.
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Date: 2019-12-13 09:10 pm (UTC)There was a moment of thoughtful silence there. "Nothing I can think of. Been a while since I was on land to any capacity."
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Date: 2019-12-14 07:08 pm (UTC)Well, it seemed they had at least some basics down for each other. "We'll keep things simple for you to recover. Feel free to haul yourself out of there if you want. Towels are on the rack to dry off."
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Date: 2019-12-18 02:30 am (UTC)That was permission enough for him, wasn't it. "I'll keep it in mind, more so if I find myself needing to stretch- and won't track sea water through your home." Could promise that much at least.
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Date: 2019-12-30 04:32 am (UTC)“You ever had a grilled steak before? Or venison? Or chicken?” He had a barbecue out back on his desk, one of the few items that he had refused to leave behind when he moved out this way. “I’m pretty good on the grill, and I can make an excellent medium rare or even rare for you.” Maybe he needed something to show off about, since the other creature was so unique and wonderful.
That would be nice. He kept his place very neat and tidy after all, but he would clean when and where necessary. “Alright, I’m going to head out and get some supplies for us. I’ll be back in a few hours. No special requests while I’m gone?”
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Date: 2019-12-31 03:20 am (UTC)Warmed up to the thought, watching Jack as he moved, shifting so arms were folded on the edge of the tub, head rested against them.
"Something sweet?"
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Date: 2020-01-01 05:14 am (UTC)He looked back as he pulled on his boots, tying them as they considered. "You tried chocolate yet?" The local bakery made some mean chocolate chip cookies he had heard after all, and he could pick up a few. He'd only been in there for bread before, but maybe a change of pace for his new roommate.
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